Receptacle filling device



Dec. 8, 1964 H. H. FRANZ 3,160,183

RECEPTACLE FILLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 16, 1962 so. so

FIG.4

INVENTOR. HENRY H. FRANZ ,5; MW W A roRNExs:

United States Patent 3,160,183 REQEPTA CLE FEELING DEVICE Henry H.Franz, 3261 Falls Cliff Road, Baltimore, Md, Filed Aug. 16, 1962, Ser.No. 217,415 3 Claims. ((11. 141-291) The present invention relatesbroadly to devices for filling containers and more specifically to animproved valve structure used in filling containers such as milkbottles.

In devices for filling receptacles of the type to which the presentinvention is directed, the valve structure has usually included, as apart thereof, a resilient sleeve or body member having a passagetheretln'ough which is adapted to engage a plug member for controllingthe flow of the material that is being delivered to the container. Theresilient sleeve member is compressed upon engagement by a lip or upperedge of the container which not only actuates the valve but inconjunction with said lip acts as a seal, thus preventing the admissionof any harmful or undesirable elements into the container during thefilling operation.

It has been found, however, that in prior art devices for filling milkbottles utilizing the resilient sleeve and plug member that they do notfunction in a proper and eilicient manner when used in connection withpresent day milk bottles having a narrow neck and inlet opening. Inusing a resilient sleeve valve member of the prior art type in thefilling of milk bottles having the narrow neck portion and reducedopening said milk bottles tend to engage the lower or bottom surface ofthe resilient sleeve valve member to compress same and open the valvewhile at the same time contracting and distorting the filling throat orflow passage of said valve structure. Such an operation tends tolengthen the filling period or time in which milk is being delivered toa bottle.

It has been found that with milk bottles of the conventional present dayusage that the narrow neck portion of the bottle tends, in manyinstances, to engage the lower surface of the valve sleeve memberin'somewhat of an offset position so that when the resilient sleeve iscompressed and moved away from the valve plug member, said bottle is notproperly positioned with respect to the valve member for receiving themilk which can result in excessive foaming of the milk during fillingwhile lengthening the filling operation time. The resilient valve sleevemember of the prior art devices has customarily been formed with asmooth annular surface on the lower or bottom face that is engaged bythe top of the milk bottle for the purpose of collapsing the valvesleeve member to permit the delivery of milk to the bottle. However, thesmooth surface on the bottom face of the valve member did not insure thecorrect and proper positioning of the upper edge of the milk bottle sothat when said sleeve valve member is collapsed or compressed it wouldtend to be distorted thus reducing the area of the flow passage throughwhich the milk is to be delivered to the bottle. The resilient valvesleeve member of the present invention is designed to overcome theaforementioned defects found to exist in the prior art devices.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device forfilling receptacles having a resilient valve sleeve member provided withan annular groove on the outer surface thereof for engagement with theneck of a bottle to be filled.

Another object is to provide a resilient valve sleeve member having anannular groove on the outer lower or bottom surface thereof engageablewith the neck of a bottle so as to unseat said valve member in a mannerto maintain a uniform flow passage through said valve member.

3,,l60,l83 Patented Dec. 8, 1964 Another object is to provide aresilient sleeve valve member having an annular groove on the outerlower surface thereof engageable with the upper edge of a bottle toinsure the proper positioning of the bottle with the filling valvemember.

Still further objects are to provide a valve arrangement of simplifiedand economical construction, efiicient in use and one with relativelyfew parts for disassembly and cleaning.

Other objects and advantages, more or less ancillary to the foregoing inthe manner in which all of the various objects are realized will appearin the following description, which when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing, sets forth the preferred embodiment of theinvention.

Referring to the drawing, wherein the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated:

PlG. 1 is an elevational view with portions thereof in section showing amilk bottle and a receptacle filling device embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a receptacle filling deviceshowing a resilient sleeve valve member having the present inventionembodied thereon;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a receptacle filling deviceengaged by a milk bottle for compressing the resilient sleeve valvemember; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the resilient sleeve valve member shownin FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a tank or vessel 1%which is adapted to contain a suitable iaterial or commodity such asmilk for delivery to a bottle 12. I The bottom of the tank 10 isprovided with an aperture 14 for delivering the contents of said tank toa spout or filler tube 16. The spout or filler tube 16 has an annularledge 17 formed integrally with the upper portion thereof from whichradiates outwardly a cone shaped member 1% that terminates in an annularflange 20 that is adapted to overlie the opening 14 in the tank 10. Theflange Sill may be secured to the outer surface of the tank iii in anysuitable manner, such as by welding, to prevent or preclude the ingressor egress of any material from or to the tank and spout assembly. Thespout 16 from its point of juncture at ledge 17 with the cone shapedmember 13 is provided with an interior passageway 22 of uniform diameterthroughout for the purpose of permitting a constant and steady flow ofmilk therethrough.

The spout or filler tube 16 has formed integrally therewith adjacent itslowermost end an annular boss or protuberance 24 which is provided witha downwardly inclined upper surface 2:: that terminates in a flatannular bottom surface 23 that is disposed in a plane normal to theplane of the outer surface 29 of the lower end portion of the spout 16.Thus, the outer peripheral surface 29 of the lowermost end portion ofthe spout l6 and the flat annular surface 23 of the boss 2 are disposedin planes normal to one another and define a seat for an end 3d of ahollow flexible rubber sleeve valve member 32. The valve member 32 ispreferably formed with upper and lower open-ended portions 369 and 34,respectively, that are of relatively thick walled configuration andwhich are connected to one another by a relatively thin-Walled centralor bulbiform portion 36. The inner diameter of the opening in the upperend Bill of the valve sleeve member 32 is slightly less than thecross-sectional area of the seat defined by the surfaces 28 and 29 sothat the end 30 is distended slightly upon being forced onto said seatwhere it will be frictionally retained by the resilient characteristicsinherent in said valve sleeve member 32. The central portion 36 of thevalve sleeve member 32 is by its bulged configuration adapted to definean internal annular recess or concavity 33 the bottom or lower surfaceof which is disposed at a slight downward inclination or :aper whichterminates in the lower end portion 34. The )ottom or lower face of theend portion 34- of the valve ;leeve member 32 is provided with anannular groove or 1ecess40 which is offset slightly fromthecentertowards :he outer. edge ofv the end portion 34 so as. todefinean .nner .annularbead or rim 42. The groove or recess 4%) s formed withan inclined or. tapered surface 43 which s provided on the outerannular-surfaceof said groove insure the proper positioning andengagement of the valve sleeve member with the lip of a milk bottle.

The spout or filler tube 16 has extending therethrough 1 vent or foamtube 4-4 which also projects through the aperture 14 and terminatesadjacent the top portion of the :ank 1 0. The vent tube 4.4 has formedon its lower end an enlarged protuberance or plug member 46 and inadiition has a hollow passageway 48 that extends throughout the lengthof saidttube. 'The plug member d6 is formed with a downwardly inclinedconical or tapered lpper surface 50 which is adapted to engage theannular sead or rim 42 formed on the lower end portion 34 of theflexible rubber sleeve valve member 32. Thus, the plug member acts as avalve seat for receiving the anaular bead 42 whereby the filler tube orspout 16 is effec- :ively sealed against the passage of any fluid ormaterial therethrough.

The vent or foam tube 44 is positioned and retained within the spout orfiller tube 16 and also within the tank 0 by means of a spider memberthat is interposed be tween the inner surface of the filler tube 16 andthe outer surface of the vent or foam tube 44. The spider memberincludes an elongated tubular portion '52 which is mounted on the outersurface of the foam tube 44 with a frictional fit so as to restrain thevent tube against any longitudinal movement within the spout 16. Thetubular portion 52 of the spider member has formed integrally therewitha plurality of spaced vertically extending radial ribs 54 Whichtend toact as spacers between the inner surface of the spout 16 and saidtubular member to thereby insure the proper positioning of the vent tube44 within thespout 16. The uppermost ends of the ribs 54 are-providedwith outwardly projecting flanges or lips 56 which are of a greaterlength than the ribs 54 and adapted to engage the annular ledge -17. Thespider member andvent tube are supported within the spout 16 by the ribs54 and lips as and the plug member 46 is also properly positioned withrespect to the lower end of the spout 16 so that the annular bead 42will properly engage the surface for effectively sealing the spoutagainst leakage of any milk;

In the operation of the present device the bottle 12 is placed upon atable 58 which is adapted to be elevated, through suitable mechanism notshown, so as to bring the upper edge or lip 60 of the bottle intoengagement with the lower end portion 34 of the resilient sleeve valvemember 32. The valve member 32 is in the position of FIG. 2 wherein theannular head 42 engages the conical surface 50 of the plug member 46 foreffectively sealing the spout 16 against the delivery of any milk fromthe tank 10. Upon the engagement of the bottle lip 69 with the end 34 ofthe valve member the plug member 46 will pass through the mouth of thebottle while the lip 66* moves into the annular recess 46 'ot the valvemember. Thus if the mouth of the bottle is a bit large due to toleranceallowance, the lip 6% will engage the inclined surfaced?) and stillpermit the end 34 of the valve member to be flexed by said engagement.The continued elevation of the bottle 12 by the table 58 will throughthe engagement of the recess 49 by the lip 6t; cause the lower endportion 34 of'the valve member 32 to be flexed or compressed towards theupper end portion 39, FIG. 3, so as to permit a steady flow of milk intothe bottle from the spout 16. As the end portionfid of the valve memheris flexed or moved towards the end 3% the milkwill.

continue to flow through the filler tube 16 between the radial ribs 54and into the bottle 12, and at the same time the lip 66 being inengagement with the annular groove 40, a full circumferential seal isobtained between said bottle and valve member whereby no leakage canoccur at this point. The engagement of the lip 60 of the bottle 12 withthe annular recesstdtlin the valve member insures that the lower end 34or" the valve-member will be flexed or moved in substantially a straightline path of movement thereby maintaining a constant diameter in theopening in the end portion 34 for the passage of the milk therethro-ugh.The annular head or recess .6 upon being engaged by the lip- 6d of thebottle prevents the lower end portion 54 of the valve member frombecoming distorted and thus prevents the opening in the end portion 3dfrom contracting and thus insures a-rapid and constant flow of milk tothe bottle.

The use of milk bottles having a narrowniouth and neck portion tends toprovide a flow passage between the outer surrace of the plug memberdeand the inner. surface of the bottle that is--materially reduced incrosssectional area. Thus, any and all milk flowing through the tillertube 16 and valve member 32 will tend to impinge upon the upper; conicalsurface 5th of the plug member 46 and be directed outwardly toward thesides of the bottle so that in its downward flow path the milk will tendto follow the sides of the bottle and thus materially reduce the amountof foaming action which is highly desirable as it tends to expedite andspeed the time required to fill such a bottle. Upon the filling of thebottle 12 the table 58 will be. lowered which action will result in thelower end-portion 34 of the valve sleeve member -32 moving towards theplug member 46 so as to bring the annular head or rim 42 intosealingengagement with the upper conical surface 50 of said'plug membercontemporaneously with the lip 50 moving outof theannular recess 40.

In disassembling the filling device for the purpose of cleaning same,the lower end 34 of the resilient valve sleeve member 32 may be manuallydrawn over the plug 'member 46 and the upper end portion 39 may then bemanually drawn downwardly and oif of the lower end of the filler tube 16and in turn moved over the plug completely set forth, it is to beunderstood that the. specific terminology is not intended to be,restrictive .or-confining and that various rearrangements ofpartsv andmodifications of detail may be resorted to without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is: V

l. A valve for filling a container having an, opening therein defined byan annular lip comprising a spout having'a plug carried thereby and aflexible resilient hollow open ended body member having one end portionencom- -passing and engagingsaid spout with the other end 'portionnormally'in scaling engagement with said plug, said 7 body member havingan internal annular recessed portion intermediate said-end portions withsaid other end portion being freely flexible with respect to said plug,said other end portion having an annular groove formed in the lower facethereof concentric with the opening in the end of said body memberand'having a diameter equal to that of theopening in the container asdefined by said annular 'lip, said end portion flexing towards saidspout upon engagement of said groove by the annular lip of the containerduring a filling operation, said groove and opening in the end of saidbody member being retained in concentric relation with said plug duringthe filling operation.

2. A filling valve for filling a container having an opening thereindefined by an annular lip comprising a spout having a plug membercarried thereby and a flexible resilient hollow open ended member havinone end portion encompassing and engaging said spout with the other endportion normally in sealing engagement with said plug member, said bodymember having an internal annular recessed portion intermediate said endportions with said other end portion being freely flexible with respectto said plug member, said other end portion having an annular grooveformed in the lower face thereof concentric with the opening in the endof said body member, said groove formed with an inclined surface on theouter annular portion thereof, said groove defining an inner annularbead on said outer end portion engageable with said plug member, saidgroove having a diameter cornmen surate with that of the opening in thecontainer as defined by said annular lip, said other end portion flexingtoward said spout upon the engagement of said inclined surface of thegroove by the annular lip of the container during a filling operation,the lip of said container engaging said groove during the flexing ofsaid other end portion towards said spout by said container whileretaining said groove and opening in concentric relation with said plug.

3. Apparatus for filling a container having an opening 2 therein definedby an annular lip comprising a tank having an opening therein, a hollowtubular depending spout overlying said opening and being secured to saidtank, a vent tube supported within said spout and projecting into saidtank and below the bottom of said spout, said vent tube having anenlarged plug formed on the lower end thereof, a hollow open endedtubular valve sleeve memher, said valve member having one end thereoffrictionally gripping the lower end of said spout, the other end of saidvalve member having an annular recess formed in the bottom surfacethereof defining an inner annular bead normally engaging said plug forsealing said spout and tank, said recess having a diameter commensuratewith that of the opening in the container as defined by said annularlip, said last mentioned end flexing towards said spout upon engagementof said recess by the annular lip of the container during a fillingoperation, the engagement of said recess by the lip of the containerduring the flexing of said end retains the cross sectional area of theopening in said end substantially equal to the cross sectional area ofthe opening when said bead is in engagement with said plug.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNEDi GEIGER,Primary Examiner.

Smallwood 141276 x

3. APPARATUS FOR FILLING A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN DEFINEDBY AN ANNULAR LIP COMPRISING A TANK HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A HOLLOWTUBULAR DEPENDING SPOUT OVERLYING SAID OPENING AND BEING SECURED TO SAIDTANK, A VENT TUBE SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID SPOUT AND PROJECTING INTO SAIDTANK AND BELOW THE BOTTOM OF SAID SPOUT, SAID VENT TUBE HAVING ANENLARGED PLUG FORMED ON THE LOWER END THEREOF, A HOLLOW OPEN ENDEDTUBULAR VALVE SLEEVE MEMBER, SAID VALVE MEMBER HAVING ONE END THEREOFFRICTIONALLY GRIPPING THE LOWER END OF SAID SPOUT, THE OTHER END OF SAIDVALVE MEMBER HAVING AN ANNULAR RECESS FORMED IN THE BOTTOM SURFACETHEREOF DEFINING AN INNER ANNULAR BEAD NORMALLY ENGAGING SAID PLUG FORSEALING SAID SPOUT AND TANK, SAID RECESS HAVING A DIAMETER COMMENSURATEWITH THAT OF THE OPENING IN THE CONTAINER AS DEFINED BY SAID ANNULARLIP, SAID LAST MENTIONED END FLEXING TOWARDS SAID SPOUT UPON ENGAGEMENTOF SAID RECESS BY THE ANNULAR LIP OF THE CONTAINER DURING A FILLINGOPERATION, THE ENGAGEMEMT OF SAID RECESS BY LIP OF THE CONTAINER DURINGTHE FLEXING OF SAID RECESS BY THE LIP OF THE CONTAINER DURING THEOPENING IN SAID END SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE CROSS SECTIONAL AREA OFTHE OPENING WHEN SAID BEAD IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PLUG.